Healthcare has major problems with patients who either cancel late or don't show up for booked appointments, according to officials. A self-developed pilot project at some clinics at Centralsjukhuset in Karlstad allows those waiting in queue for a doctor's appointment to book 'last minute' via 1177 when a gap occurs due to a late cancellation. The women's clinic, eye clinic, and dermatology clinic are included in the pilot project that has been ongoing since the turn of the year.
When a late cancellation is received, a 'last minute offer' is sent to 10 to 30 patients waiting in queue for a doctor's visit via 1177. The link in the offer can be clicked by those who can consider coming on short notice, with 'first come, first served' applying. The person who clicks first on the link and accepts the time gets booked, while others automatically get a message that the time is no longer available. In one instance, a patient got an appointment with only two hours' notice.
At the women's clinic alone, at least one doctor's appointment per day was previously lost due to late cancellations, but now it might be one appointment per week that they don't manage to fill, if even that. The project ends in a few weeks and will then be evaluated. The women's clinic wants to continue even after the project.